2018 PHS SUMMER READING
One School. One Genre
*PLEASE BE SURE TO READ ALL INFORMATION BY SCROLLING THROUGH TO THE BOTTOM*
BIOGRAPHY STUDY
This year, our Summer Reading selection is actually an entire genre! All high school students will select a biography or autobiography to read over the summer.* The biography should be about someone who has positively influenced our world in a way that not only improves it, but also helps us find a path to our own success and fulfillment. We hope that by studying the life of someone who has made a positive impact on the world, students will begin to see how their own decisions, efforts, successes, and setbacks, all contribute to their unique life story. (AP English and Western Lit Honors students, please see the bottom section of this flyer for more information)
*In allowing students to choose and read a biography, we recognize that some authors present information that may contain sensitive language and situations. We encourage parents and students to review materials together.
CHOOSING AND OBTAINING A BOOK
- When picking a book, consider your own interests, hobbies, and experiences. Also consider what you want to do after high school. In any case, simply broadening your understanding of people that shape our world is certainly an indicator of a lifelong learner!
- You are strongly encouraged (but not required) to select a book from the teacher recommendation list linked here.
- You may select a book that is not on the list, but please consider the questions and ideas listed listed in the section below.
- Books may be borrowed from your school library before the end of school and returned to the high school in the summer or in September when you return. This includes South, North, and Central Middle School libraries for current 8th graders. The librarians may provide additional information at each school.
- Books may also be borrowed from a public library or purchased from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or anyplace where books are sold (if you know of a small, local book store, check there first).
QUESTIONS AND IDEAS TO CONSIDER AS YOU READ AND REFLECT
Be sure to take some notes based on these questions as they will be used to help teachers create experiences when you return in September. These activities will most likely involve some type of writing and discussion. Individual teachers will review this with you when school begins.
- What interests you most about this individual?
- Describe their impact on society? What are the positives? Are there negatives?
- What difficulties and challenges did this individual face along the way?
- What can you learn from this individual's story to improve your own life and possibly have a positive impact on those around you?
- What surprised you most about this individual?
CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW FOR SOME ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR READING A BIOGRAPHY!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL AP ENGLISH AND WESTERN LIT HONORS (Senior level class) STUDENTS
- AP English students (both Language and Literature) will have specialized reading lists available on Canvas from your AP teacher-- you are encouraged, but not required to read the biography over the summer.
- Western Literature Honors students will read Kate Chopin's The Awakening as well as a biography.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS
Please contact Mr. Hilary Czaplicki, Secondary English Supervisor
Email: hczaplic@pennridge.org
Location: Pennridge School District, Bucks County, PA, United States
Phone: (215) 453-6944
Twitter: @CzapHIl